Senior Green Chemistry Training Expert

​​Requisition ID: 4035

Grade: ISA-Principal Specialist

Country: Home Based

Duty Station: Home Based
Category: International Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-When Act. Employed
Application Deadline: 19 June 2024, 11:59 PM (CEST)

Vacancy Announcement

TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Departments/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, oversees the Organization's development of capacities for industrial development as well as industrial policy advice, statistics and research activities and the Organization's normative contribution to the Member States and global development community in achieving the SDGs. The Directorate also ensures the application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to the Environment, Energy, SMEs, Competitiveness and Job creation, as well as Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute toward effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results and on realizing any potential for scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.

The Division of Circular Economy and Environmental Protection (TCS/CCM) contributes to a greener and more circular industries and products by minimizing both resource use along value chains and the emission of pollutants to the environment. The Division promotes just transitions to circular economies, reduced release of pollutants into the environment and other green industrial and economic approaches to help Member States to grow economically while simultaneously addressing the three planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. It does so by supporting resource efficiency increases in the manufacturing and use of products along value chains and during the life cycle of the product; by reducing or eliminating the emission of non-fuel-related greenhouse gas emissions; and by assisting in achieving the objectives of and compliance with multilateral environmental agreements. In doing so, its activities further improve competitiveness, as well as the development of and access to markets, particularly for SMEs. This contributes to climate-neutral, resilient, pollution-free industrial development, supporting co-existence that is in harmony with nature.

The Division acts as the focal point in UNIDO for various multilateral environmental agreements and multilateral cooperation in the field of the environment, including the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer; the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants; the Minamata Convention on Mercury, and emerging international, legally binding instruments such as the instrument to End Plastic Pollution; the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), and other partnerships such as the Green Growth Knowledge Platform (GGKP), the Partnership for Action for Green Economy (PAGE), the Green Industry Platform (GIP) and other relevant international initiatives and conventions. The Division coordinates its advisory and service delivery with the services offered by other technical departments, and other relevant organizational entities of UNIDO.

This position is located under the Responsible Materials and Chemicals Management Unit (TCS/CCM/RMC) which is responsible for supporting Member States to implement the chemicals and wastes obligations and requirements under the Basel, Minamata, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions and other emerging relevant agreements, in particular where it relates to larger and formalized industries and sectors, and to leverage its experience to address industrial pollution mitigation in general as well as other emerging compliance mechanisms. With novel approaches to materials and chemicals management and to innovation, with training and education, and with implementing circular economy approaches in particular related to the extension of product life by maintenance, the Unit further leverages its experience to facilitate responsible materials sourcing and to support smaller enterprises and entrepreneurs in greening their businesses.

PROJECT CONTEXT

IOMC Toolbox Phase IV aims to improve the sound management of chemicals and hazardous waste in countries worldwide, thereby contributing to the achievement and implementation of nearly all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), multi-lateral environmental and other international agreements and frameworks. Furthermore, the project will ensure that the IOMC Toolbox and its content is increasingly used at national level to improve chemicals and waste management capacities and infrastructure, including control and enforcement, as well as access to data and information. The action also fosters a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder approach to chemicals and waste management, as well as increased collaboration and networking between countries and IOMC Partner Organizations towards achieving the sound management of chemicals and the implementation of related SDGs.

The final beneficiaries include those who use and manage chemicals (i.e. operators including workers and those responsible for occupational safety and health), the consumers who are exposed to chemicals and wastes via food, water and use of chemicals in products, and society at large as a result of reduced exposure to hazardous chemicals via the environment through improvements in the sound management of chemicals and waste.

The Green Chemistry Toolkit (GCT) (available at https://greenchemistry-toolkit.org) was developed under the Global Green Chemistry Initiative – a project led by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in partnership with the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale University and translated from English into French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic within the framework of the IOMC project. The toolkit aims to increase the general global awareness and capacities on deployable Green Chemistry approaches for the design of products and processes that advance global environmental benefits throughout their life cycles. It explains Green Chemistry and its applicability in the industry in an interactive manner.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Project Manager, with support from the project team from UNIDO HQ, the Green Chemistry Training Expert will carry out the following main duties:

• Familiarization with the content of the GCT (including the training, case studies, videos, and useful materials).
• Desk review of other training materials or courses from reputable sources (universities and UN organizations) to benchmark against the most updated available materials and identify any gaps or areas of improvement in the current GCT.
• Content assessment of the current GCT in terms of its clarity, coherence, accuracy, credibility of the sources, effectiveness, and inclusivity to identify any outdated or obsolete information which should be removed or revised.
• Analysis of the user interface and navigation of the toolkit.
• Evaluation of the engagement level of the materials to consider factors, such as, clarity of explanations, effective use of visuals, and interactive elements.
• Compilation of a comprehensive list of recommendations for revising and updating the toolkit based on the assessment findings. The recommendations should be prioritized based on their impact on the overall quality and effectiveness of the toolkit. The recommendations should include specific suggestions for updating content, improving engagement, enhancing user experiences, and addressing any identified deficiencies of the current GCT. The recommendations should consider the inclusion of one or two new modules in the training, for example, on financing schemes and options and on integration of green chemistry principles into a national policy framework.
• Meeting with UNIDO team to discuss the assessment findings and recommendations.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education:

Advanced university degree in chemistry, green industry, environment management or related areas is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in the chemistry sector is required.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in development of training materials and sessions is required.
• Knowledge about green chemistry initiatives or technologies is required.

Languages:

Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core values:

WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Core competencies:

WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.

Notice to applicants:

UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: [email protected]